Salem County Veterans Corner: Military service and Social Security benefits

There has been a lot of talk about veterans receiving their credit for military service on their Social Security benefit payments. This column addresses your rights and who to contact to be sure you are getting your earned Social Security benefits.

Earnings for active duty military service or active duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Social Security has covered inactive duty service in the armed forces reserves (such as weekend drills) since 1988. If you served in the military before 1957, you did not pay Social Security taxes, but you were given special credit for some of your service.

You are entitled to receive both Social Security benefits and military retirement. Generally, there is not a reduction in Social Security benefits.

Because of your military retirement benefits. You should receive your full Social Security benefit based on your earnings.

Your Social Security benefit depends on your earnings, averaged over your working lifetime. Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. These extra earnings may help you qualify for an increase in the amount of your Social Security benefit. Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for periods 1957 through 2001 can also be credited to your Social Security earnings record for benefit purposes:

• From 1957 through 1967 Social Security will add the extra credits to your record when you apply if you included your military service information.

• From 1968 through 2001 you do not need to do anything to receive these extra credits. The credits were automatically added to your record.

• After 2001 there are no special extra earnings credits for military service.

If you served in the military from 1940 through 1956, you did not pay Social Security taxes, However your Social Security record may be credited with $160 per month in earnings, under the following circumstances:

• You were honorably discharged with at least 90 days of active duty.

• You are still on active duty.

• You are applying for survivors benefits.

In addition to retirement benefits, Social Security also will pay survivor benefits, when you die or if you become disabled. If you become disabled on or after Oct. 1, 2001 please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors for expedited processing. You will need proof of military service (DD214) or information about your reserve or National Guard Service.

If you have health care insurance from the Veterans Affairs under TRICARE or CHAMPVA program, your health benefits may change or end when you become eligible for Medicare. You should contact your Military health benefits advisor for more information.

For more detailed information for all of the above programs mentioned, please contact Social Security on its website at www.socialsecurity.gov or via telephone at 1-800-772-1213. Those with hearing impairments can call 1-800-325-0778